Multistage and expansion fluid pump



June 24, 1930. c. H. HARDIE ET AL- MULTISTAGE AND EXPANSION FLUID PUMP Filed Maf'ch 5, 19

29 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6776006 166 Haw 1e 34%; Ji/was' June 24, 1930; c. H.HARDIE ET AL MULTISTAGE} AND EXPANSION FLUID'FUMP Filed March 5, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 2 IEW' INN? l V I l June 24-, 193%.

c. 1. HARDIE ET AL.

MULTISTAGE AND EXPANSION FLUID PUMP Filed March 5. 1929 s Sheets- Sheet3 I Z L A 7 TO 2mm:

Patented June 24, 1939 UNITED STATES CHARLES H. HARDIE, OF SOUTHMULTISTAGE AND EXPANSION FLUID PUMP Application filed March 5,

compressed air, each successive expansion lifting a column of fluidupward, the force of expansion generally being employed to exertpressure on decreasing elevation at each expansion, such as is incompound or triple expansion steam engines is converted intolongitudinal expansions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fluid lift that isfree from reciprocating parts ordinarily employed in pumping mechanisms,such as sucker rods, jacks, working barrels, and the like.

A further object is to provide a fluid lift which will operate in wellswhich are of great depth or in which the here is irregular in formation.

Referring to the drawings in which a single embodiment of the inventionis illustrated by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a View showing the fluid lift installed in a well.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the upper portion of the fluid lift takenon line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing an intermediate portion of the fluidlift taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 taken on line at-40f Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View showing the'lower end of the fluid lift takenon line 5".5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 5 showing the position of thefluid control valves when fluid first enters the fluid lift.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing fluid being transferred orliftedfrom one lifting chamber to the one above it.

1929. Serial No. 344,392.

' Fig. 8 is a View showing the position of the fluid control valvesimmediately after the second lifting chamber has been filled with fluid.

The fluid lift consists primarily of a plurality of high pressure air orgas chambers interposed between a plurality of lifting chambers.Compressed air or casing head gas is introduced into the uppermost highpressure chamber and is conducted to each of the succeeding highpressure chambers through conduits passing through the lifting chambers.

Starting with the uppermost, the high pressure chambers are designatedat 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, and are connected so that air maypass from one chamber to the next by pipes or conduits 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 25, and 2G, compressed air or gas under pressure being introducedinto the high pressure chamber 10 through a pipe 28. The liftingchambers are designated at 30, 31, 32, 33, 34;, 35, 36,and 37, and areconnected by pipe lines 40, 4:1, 42, 43, 4 1, and 45, in order to allowfluid to be transferred or lifted from one fluid chamber to the oneabove it and finally discharged through a pipe line 46 in the chamber 30to storage;

As illustrated the fluid lift is shown more or less diagrammatically sofar as assembling so details are concerned, such as couplings, unions,;etc it being understood that suitable fittings may be employed so thatthe fluid lift may be assembled in sections and lowered into the wellVV- within the casing C. Fluid enters the lowermost lifting chamber andis forced therefrom into the succeeding lifting chambers by expansion ofcompressed air. The rising column of fluid and the admission ofcompressed air to effect it is con- 96' trolled by a system of valvesand floats more fully described in detail as follows:

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the fluid lift is submerged belowthe fluid level so that fluid will fill the chamber 37 by gravity. Fluidenters the chamber 37 through the check valve 60 lifting the ball 61 offits seat, at the same time fluid enters the pipe 40 through check valve62 lifting the ball. 63, and continues to fill the'chamber 37 and wtrise in the pipe 10 until the level of fluid in pipe is equal to thefluid in chamber 37.

During the above stated interval air above the fluid in the chamber isallowed to escape to atmosphere through the vent pipes 50, 51, 52, 53,and 54:. A plate or head 65 forms a division between the lifting chamber37 and high pressure chamber 17 and is also utilized to carry a balancedpiston valve 66 which is slidable in a bore 67 and urged forward by anexpansion spring 68. The piston valve consists of three pistons 69, 7'0,and 71, which are connected by two reduced portions 72 and 73, andnormally lies in the position shown in Fig. 5 at which time vent ports74 and 75 are opened and high pressure air ports 76 and 77 are closed.

The piston valve serves to open and close the ports 7 4, 75, 76, and 77at proper intervals and is actuated by opening and closing needle valves78 and 79 respectively. The needle valve 79 is operated by a float 80which is connected to one end of a pivotedly mounted lever 81 the otherend of which is connected to the stem 82 of the needle valve 79.Normally the needle valve 79 closes a port 83 leading from the valvecage 84 in the plate 65 to the high pressure chamber 17. The port 83remains closed until fluid entering the chamber 37 reaches the float 80and lifts same which in turn through the lever will move the needlevalve 79 down, opening the port 83 and admitting high pressure air intothe valve cage 84 thence to the end of the bore 67 through. a port 85.High pressure air from the chamber 17 will then act on the piston 69 ofthe piston valve 66 and move the piston valve to the position shown inFig. 6 which will open the ports 76 and 77 and allow high pressure airfrom the chamber 17 to enter the chamber 37. In order to return thepiston valve to normal position the needle valve 78 is actuated by meansof a float 88 which is of sufflcient weight to pull the valve from itsseat against the action of a spring 89 (when the chamber 37 is empty)and open a port 90 entering the bore 67, thus equalizing air pressure onboth ends of valve, the float 88 being connected to the valve 78 by acable 91.

When the fluid lift is first installed and no high pressure air isintroduced, fluid will enter the chamber 37 by gravity, air above thefluid will have a clean vent to atmosphere and will lift the float 80which in turn will cause the needle valve 7 9 to open ports 83 and 85.High pressure air is then admitted through the pipe 28 and will chargeall of the high pressure chambers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, thepressure in the high pressure chambers continuing to increase untilsufficient pressure is developed to overcome the resistance of thespring 68 at which time the piston 66 will be moved to the positionshown in Fig. 6 by high pressure air from the chamber 17 entering thebore 67 through the ports 83 and 85. It will be noted that when thelifting chamber 37 is filled with fluid the needle valve 78 closes theport 90, hence a bleeder port 92 serves to vent any air in bore 67 backof the piston 71 of the piston valve when it is being moved over.

At the moment the piston valve is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6high pressure air from the chamber 17 will enter the lifting chamber 37through the ports 76 and 7 7 passing around the reduced portion 72 ofthe piston valve and exert suflicient pressure on the fluid in thechamber to cause it to be transferred into the lifting chamber 36through the pipe 40 at which time the ball of the check valve 60 will beseated and the ball 63 of the check valve 62 unseated, the rising columnof fluid will lift a valve 98 seated in the upper end of the pipe 40 asshown in Fig. 7.

The valve 98 is connected to one end of a pivoted lever 99, the otherend of the lever having a pin 100 slidable in a slot 102 in the stem 103of a' needle valve 104 which is normally pulled downward by the weightof a float 105 connected to the valve stem by a cord 106 against theaction of a spring 107 when the chamber 36 is empty as shown in Figs. 5and 6. During the intervalwhen the chamber 36 is being filled, the valve104 remains unseated due to the tilted position of the lever which willcarry the pin 100 to the lower end of the slot 102 and prevents upwardmovement of the valve stem due to the action of the spring 107, thusallowing air above the fluid in the chamber to pass through the ventpipes 51, 52, 53, and 5 1 to atmosphere As the fluid in the chamberrecedes due to the high pressure air entering fluid chamber through theports 76 and 77 from the high pressure air chamber 17 and forcing thefluid in the pipe 40 upward into the chamber 36 the float 80 will firstreturn to normal position and close the port 83 cutting off highpressure air to the piston 66, which will remain in the position shownin Figs. 6 and 7 allowing high pressure air from the chamber to continueto expel the fluid in the chamber 37 into the chamber 36 through thepipe 10 until the chamber 36 is empty, at which time the weight of thefloat valve 88 will open the port 90 and allow the compressed air in thechamber 37 plus the action of the spring 88 to return the piston 66 toits former position as shown in F 5, thus cutting 01% high pressure airfrom the chamber 17, it being noted that the check valve 61 is closeddue to high pressure air in the chamber 37.

From the foregoing it will be seen that dur ing the transferring offluid from the chamber 37 to 36 the chamber 37 is charged withcompressed air from the high pressure chamber 17 and finally cut off orclosed to additional compressed air from the chamber 17 or fir id whenall the fluid in it has been transferred to the chamber 36 from thechamber 37. The remaining air entrapped in the chamber 37 is compressedand therefore capable of expansion. At the moment the float valve 38drops and opens the port the expansion of the air in the chamber 3'?will exert a pressure on the fluid in the chamber 36 through he pipe 50(ports 7 4 and 7 5 then beingopen) and force the fluid from the chamber36 into the chamber 35 through pipe 41 which will lift a valve similarto the valve 98 and ill the chamber 35 in a like manner to the chamber36.

During the filling of the chamber 35, needle valve 109 of the sameconstruction and operation as the needle valve 104 will open a port 111allowing air above the fluid in the chamber 35 to be vented through thepipes 52, 53, and 54. The needle valve 109 will close the port 111 whenthe chamber 35 is full. Simultaneously the needle valve 104 will beunseated and allow compressed air from the cylinder 37 to pass throughpipes 50 and 51 and force the fluid from the chamber 35 into the chamber34 through the pipe 42. The valve 112, needle valve 114, and float 115in the chamber will function the same as in the chambers .35, 36, therebeing suiiicient compressed air in the chambers 35, 36, and 37 to forcethe -fluid from the chamber 34 into the chamber 33 throu 'h the pipe 43,air above the iluid entering'ihe chamber 33 will be vented to atmospherethrough pipe lines 118, 119, 120, and 121. 7

From the foregoing itwill be seen that the high pressure air entrappedin the chamber 37 has by successive expansion elevated the lluid fromthe chamber 3? to chamber 33 the pres,- sure being reduced at eachexpansion but still remaining sulliciently compressed to eifect liftingof the fluid from one lifting chamber to the one above it before thepressure is reduced below a point of further effective expansion. Thepressure in the chamber- 311s obviously greatest when first charged wlthhigh pressure air from the chamber 17, hence capable of lilting thefluid the greatest d1stance during the first expansion, viz. whentransferring the fluid from chamber 37 to .36; for example, if250 lbs.of air pressure is employed the chamber 17 may be approximately 500 ft.in length During the first expansion the pressure will be reduced toapproximately lbs. therefore capable of further expansion and of liftingfluid approximately 250 it. during the second expansion, 1. e. fromchamber 36 to chamber 35, hence the chamber 16 may be approximately250tt. in height. During the second expansion the pressure in thechambers 36 and 3'? will be equalized or reduced to approximately 125lbs. the expansion being capable of lifting the fiuld from the chamber35 to 34 or a distance of 166 ft. The air pressure in the chambers 35,36,

and 37 is then equalized, i. e. at the completion of the third expansionafter the fluid has been lifted from the chamber 34 to 33. Air pressurein the chambers 34, 35, .36, and 37 is then equalized and the pressurereduced toapproXimately 83 lbs, at'which time the original pressure of250 lbs. has been reduced to approximately 33 lbs, and is not employedfor further lifting of fluid unless desired. At the moment the fluid hasbeen trai'isferred from chamber 34 to 33 the weight of thefioat 115will'unseat the valve 114 and allow compressed air in the chamber toenter pipes 53 and 54, also pipe which passes through the chamber 33 andenters a valve cage 131 in a head 132 which forms a division 1 etweenthe chambers .33 and 13.

V As previously referred to the pipes 53 and the fluid from chamber 3?to 34. when the valve 114 is opened by the float 115 the expansion ofair in the chamber through the pipe 130 will lift a ball check valve 134and allow air on a piston 135 on the stem of a valve 136 normally heldseated by an expansion spring 137 and closing port 133 communicatingwith the high pressure air chamber 13. The pres sure exerted on thepiston 135 by the expansion of air "from the chamber 34 plus the highpressure air in the chamber 13 through port 133 in the head 132 willunseat the valve 136 which will allow high pressure air to pass throughthe port 133 and a port 140 and actua balanced piston valve 142 in orderto communication between the high presmber 13 and the lilting chamber33. It will be noted that the outer end of the pipe 54 is reduced at 54in order to prevent air from the chamber escaping too rapidly and toinsure the lifting of the check valve 134' The piston valve 142 consistsof three pistions 143,144, and 145, connected by reduced portions 142and is slidable in a bore 146 and normally held the position shown inFig. 3 by an expansion spring 14?. When in this position the piston 144closes a port 148 thereby preventing high pressure air from the chamber13 entering the chamber 33, also opening vent port 149 between thepistons 144 and When the valve 137 is actuated, the piston valve 142will be moved over (against the resistance of the spring) closing thevent port 149 and opening the port 148 which will allow high pressureair from the chan'iber 13 to enter the chamber 33 through the port 148and aport 150.

High pressure air entering the chamber 33 will force the fluid thereininto the chamber through pipe 44. When the chamber is practically emptythe float valve 152 will pull the needle valve 153 from its seat andopen a port 154 which will admit air pressure in the chamber 33 to acton the pis- 4 serve as vent pipes during the elevating of However.

n the pipe 130 to exert pressure ton 142 and return same to normalposition cutting off any more high pressure air entering same.

The high pressure air entrapped in the chamber will then pass up pipe118 and force the fluid in chamber 32 into the chamber 31 through pipe45. Expansion of air in the chain. ers and 33 which is then reduced inpressure but equalized will pass through pipe 119 and force the fluid inthe chamber 31 into the chamber 30 through pipe 45. In a like mannerexpansion of air in the chambers 31, 32, and 33 will pass through pipe120 and force the fluid in chamber 30 through pipe 46 to storage.

During the filling of the chambers 30, 31, and 32, needle valves 156,157, and 158 con- HGCtGd to floats 1G0, 161, 162, and pivoted levers1G4, 165, and 166 connected to valves 16?, 168, 169 normally closing theupper ends of the fluid transfer pipes 43, 44, 45, and 46 function inthe same manner as in the chambers 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37, the lower endof the transfer pipes being provided with check valves 43, 44 45, and46. Immediately after the fluid in the chamber 34 has been trans erredto the chamber 33 the chamber 37 will again be filled with fluidentering same by gravity and the operation repeated as previouslydescribed.

In the event that the supply of compressed air should be cut off duringthe operation of the fluid lift and fluid partially filling the chambers36 and 37 after the air in the chamber 37 had been reduced belowexpansion, the fluid lift would be rendered inoperative, because due tothe normal position of the piston valve 66 no high pressure air couldenter the chamber 37, nor could this chamber fill and operate float 30because the vent through pipe 51 would be closed by needle valve 104.

In order to continue operation air pressure in excess of that ordinarilyemployed is admitted to increase the pressure in the high pressurechambers, this extra pressure Wlll enter a port 170 in the divisionplate 172 and act on a piston 173 slidable in a bore 173 formed in saiddivision plate which when moved over against the action of a spring 174will open a port 175 which will allow the pressure developed in thechamber 16 to force the fluid from the chamber 36 to chamber 35, andwhen empty the needle valve 104 will be opened by float 105 andoperation continued as heretofore described. A branch pipe 51 formscommunication between the bore 173 and the vent pipe 51, and is providedto permit escape of air during movement of the piston 173, or preventpressure developing in the space back of the piston. The chamber 37 willeventually be relieved of compressed air through the vent pipes afterthe chamber 34 has been discharged, thusallowing it to fill by gravity,it being noted that the piston 173 normally closes the port 175 and onlyoperates when excessive high pressure air is employed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that fluid entering the chamber 37 islifted from that chamber to chamber 33 by successive eX- pansions ofcompressed air, then lifted again from the chamber 33 through thechambers 32, 31, and 30, by another series of expansions and finallydischarged at the top of the well.

Although it would be possible to raise the fluid by a single expansion,an excessive pressure would be required. By employing a plurality offluid chambers the maximum effectiveness or energy of the initialpressure may be obtained, i. e. by admitting compressed air successivelyinto a plurality of superimposed chambers. The fluid may be raised fromthe chamber to another in an economical manner. For example, 100 lbs, ofair pressure will sustain a 250 foot column of water; by admitting thisair into another chamber the fluid therein may be raised another 115 ft.

It will be understood however that by substituting another chamber 33and head 132 with the valves therein another series of fluid lifting andhigh pressure chambers may be provided to lift the fluid still furtherand this system can be employed as often as necessary depending upon thedepth of the well.

While we have shown an embodiment of our invention especially adaptedfor raising or elevating hydrocarbons from oil wells, it will beunderstood that it may be applied with equal facility to the lifting offluids, such as water, from deep Water wells, or for pumping any kind ofslush or other fluid, or semi-fluid materials.

We claim:

1. A fluid lift comprising a plurality of high pressure air chambers, aplurality of fluid lifting chambers interposed between said highpressure air chambers, conduits connecting said fluid lifting chambers,conduit-s connecting said high pressure air chambers, and means forcontrolling the admission of compressed air from said high pressure airchambers to said lifting chambers to effect a plurality of. expansionsof compressed air in said fluid lifting chambers.

2. A fluid lift comprising a plurality of fluid lifting chambers, aplurality of high pressure air chambers between said fluid'liftingchambers, valve operated means for admitting compressed air from saidhigh pressure air chambers to the lowermost of said fluid liftingchambers when filled with fluid, valve operated means for cutting ofl'admission of compressed air from said high pressure air chambers to thelowermost of said fluid lifting chambers when the fluid in the lowermostof said fluid lifting chambers has been transferred to the fluid liftingchamber above it, fluid operated valves in the succeeding fluid liftingchambers to admit compressed air from said lowermost fluid liftingchamber to force fluid from one fluid lifting chamber to the one aboveit by successive expansion of the compressed air in the lowermost ofsaid fluid lifting chambers.

3. A fluid lift comprising a plurality of fluid lifting chambers, aplurality of high pressure chambers interposed between said fluidlifting chambers, pipe lines passing through said fluid lifting chambersand connecting said high pressure chambers, a pipe extending from thelower end of each fluid lifting chamber through the high pressurechamber above through the fluid lifting chamber above the high pressurechamber and terminating adjacent the upper end of the fluid liftingchamber for transferring fluid from one fluid lifting chamber to the oneabove it, pipe lines in said fluid lifting chambers for first Ventingthe air from said fluid lifting chambers, then admitting air from thehigh pressure chambers to force the fluid from one lifting chamber tothe one above, and valve mechanism operated by the rise and fall of thefluid entering the fluid lift and the fluid lifting chamber forcontrolling the venting of air in the'fluid lifting chambers and theadmission of air from the hi h pressure chambers to force the fluidupward by successive expansions of compressed air from one fluid liftingchamber to the one above it.

i. A fluid lift comprising a plurality of fluid lie. ing chambers, aplurality of high pressure chambers interposed between said fluidlifting chambers, pipe lines passing through said fluid lifting chambersand connecting said high pressure chambers, a pipe extending from thelower end of each fluid lifting chamber through the high pressurechamber above through the fluid lifting chamber above the high pressurechamber and terminating adjacent the upper end of the fluid liftingchamber for transferring fluid from one fluid lifting chamber to the oneabove it, pipe lines in said fluid lifting chambers for first ventingthe air from said fluid lifting chambers, then admitting air from thehigh pressure chambers to force the fluid from one lifting chamber tothe one above, a check valve in the lowermost of said fluid liftingchambers for admitting fluid therein, a valve between the lowermost ofsaid fluid lifting chambers and the high pressure air chambers adaptedto open and close ports at proper intervals to exhaust the air from thelowermost of said fluid lifting chamber and admit air from said highpressure air chambers for successive expansions to force the fluid inthe succeeding lifting chamber upward, and valve mechanism operated bythe rise and fall of fluid in the lowermost of said fluid liftingchamber to v actuate said avlve.

5. A fluid lift comprising a plurality of fluid liftin chambers aluralit of hi h p 1 pressure air chambers interposed between said fluidlifting chambers, a check valve inthe lowermost of said fluid liftingchambers for admitting fluid therein, a head between the lowermost ofsaid fluid lifting chambers and the high pressure air chamber above it,a balanced piston valve slidable in a bore in said head adapted to openvent ports in said head for exhausting the air in the lowermost of saidfluid liftingchambers while being filled with fluid, then closing saidvent ports when the lowermost of said fluid lifting chambers are filledwith fluid and opening ports from said high pressure air chambers andagain opening said vent ports and closing said ports from the highpressure air chamber when the fluid in the lowermost of said fluidlifting chamber has been transferred to the fluid lifting cl'iamberabove it, needle valves for admitting compressed air alternately to eachend of the bore in said head. to actuate said balanced piston valve, andfloats for actuating each of said needle valves.

6. A fluid lift comprising a plurality of fluid lifting chambers, aplurality of high pressure air chambers interposed between said fluidlifting chambers, each of said high pressure air chambers being ofgreater length than the one above it, conduits connecting said fluidlifting chambers, conduits connecting said high pressure air chambers,and means for controlling the admission of compressed air from said highpressure air chambers to said lifting chambers to effect a plurality ofexpansions of compressed air in said fluid lifting chambers.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CHARLES H. HARDIE. lVILLIAM JONES.

